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PLAYING OUT LOUD! John Mayall - The Guildhall, Portsmouth
- Wednesday October 25. John Mayall was born on November 29, 1933, in Macclesfield. The eldest of three brothers from humble working class origins, he grew up listening to his guitarist father's extensive jazz record collection and felt drawn to the blues. Strongly influenced by such greats as Leadbelly, Albert Ammons, Pinetop Smith, and Eddie Lang, from the age of 13 he taught himself to play and develop his own style with the aid of a neighbour's piano, borrowed guitars, and secondhand harmonicas. From an art college training, to three years with the British Army in Korea, to a successful career in graphic design, his blues singing and playing took a back seat until he reached the age of 30. From 1956 until 1962, John was performing publicly on a part-time basis fronting The Powerhouse Four and, later on, The Blues Syndicate. It was then that Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated pioneered what was to become known as The British Blues Boom of the Late 60's. Alexis was quick to encourage and help John make his move to London where he soon secured enough club work to be able to turn professional under the name John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. After a couple of years and a constant turnover of musicians, he met his soulmate in Eric Clapton, who had quit the Yardbirds in favor of playing the blues. This historic union culminated in the first hit album for the Bluesbreakers and resulted in worldwide legendary status. After Clapton and Jack Bruce left the band to form Cream, a succession of great musicians defined their artistic roots under John's leadership, and he became as well known for discovering new talent as for his hard-hitting interpretations of the fierce Chicago-style blues he'd grown up listening to. As sidemen left to form their own groups, others took their places. Peter Green, John McVie and Mick Fleetwood became Fleetwood Mac. Andy Fraser formed Free, and Mick Taylor joined the Rolling Stones. As Eric Clapton has stated, "John Mayall has actually run an incredibly great school for musicians." In 1969, with his popularity blossoming in the USA, John caused somewhat of a stir with the release of a drummer less acoustic live album entitled "The Turning Point." Attracted by the West Coast climate and culture, John then made his permanent move from England to Laurel Canyon in Los Angeles and began forming bands with American musicians. Throughout the 70's, John became further revered for his many jazz/rock/blues innovations featuring such notable performers as Blue Mitchell, Red Holloway, Larry Taylor, and Harvey Mandel. He also backed blues greats John Lee Hooker, T-Bone Walker, and Sonny Boy Williamson on their first English club tours. The year 1979
proved to be a climactic year for John Mayall, both personally and
professionally. With the public climate being at an all-time low for blues
music, Mayall struggled to keep his live and recording career afloat.
Personally,however, he began the 20+ year relationship with his current wife
Maggie, a singer/songwriter from Chicago who had been hired with Harvey Mandel's
band as Mayall's backup. Extreme misfortune came his way when a brush fire Motivated by nostalgia and fond memories, in 1982 John (together with Mick Taylor and John McVie) decided to re-form the original Bluesbreakers for a couple of tours and a video concert film entitled “Blues Alive.” By the time Mick and John had returned to their respective careers, public reaction had convinced Mayall that he should return to his driving blues roots. As John McVie returned to Fleetwood Mac and Mick resumed his solo career, Mayall returned to Los Angeles to select his choices for a new incarnation of the Bluesbreakers. Officially launched in 1984, it included future stars in their
own right, guitarists Coco Montoya and Walter Trout, as well as drummer Joe
Yuele, who is still john's rhythmic mainstay. Making his recording debut on Mayall's "Spinning Coin," "Blues For the Lost Days" and "Padlock On The Blues" Mayall released three CD's through his own private label, Private Stash Records. They are "Time Capsule" (containing historic 1957-62 live tapes-no longer available), "UK Tour 2K" (live recordings from the Bluesbreakers 2000 British tour), and a selection of solo performances from John entitled "Boogie Woogie Man". The current millennium has proved to be as productive so far
with “Along For The Ride", "Stories", "The Turning Point Sound Track" his 55th
album, "Road Dogs" and a number of DVDs. Hazel O’Connor - Various October Dates. With the release of her last album, the long awaited “Hidden Heart”, Hazel O’Connor is back with a national UK acoustic tour and a chance to get up-close and personal in a unique and intimate show format. On this tour Hazel has teamed up once again with celebrated harpist Comac De Barra. Cormac has been performing with Hazel since 1998, after their first project, the autobiographical show, ‘Beyond Breaking Glass.”’ Dubbed "the highlight of the Edinburgh Festival," they have since travelled the world together performing. Hazel and Cormac are joined on stage by the multi-talented Ruairí de Barra on guitar, whistles and percussion. The live-show and new album combines Hazel's unique and unforgettable voice with the musicianship of Cormac in a stirring musical marriage. She writes and performs from the heart, and her husky voice remains as ever charged with passion. Her enthusiasm and love of music is undimmed, and every Hazel 0’Connor show is an unforgettable experience. With the success of her “Beyond Breaking Glass” album and world tour, her first-ever retrospective ‘best of “A Singular Collection,” and now the new release, Hazel has fast re-established herself as a writer, actress, raconteur and performer, who has matured gracefully over the years. tHazel continues to demonstrate throughout her performances, a philosophy that has marks her out as a true survivor. Recent appearances have included Celtic Connections, Glastonbury, Henley, Wasted, Cardiff Big Weekend and Beautiful Days in addition to tours of Australia, Holland, Ireland and England. No O’Connor show is complete without her original classics “Will You,” “D-Days” and “Eighth Day” nor her new classics “Rebecca,” “Driftwood” and “I’m Still Breathing.” These, will feature alongside her new tracks “Strong,” “Acoustically Yours,” “Perfect Days,” and more.
Peter Bruntnell - Railway Inn, Winchester - Saturday
October 28. Peter Bruntnell’s rave-reviewed last album “Ghost In A Spitfire” is packed with the kind of songs that led Rolling Stone to hail him as "one of England's best kept musical secrets." Although his tent has been pitched in the Americana camp, he's a very British songwriter, who on the evidence of this latest album and especially on tracks such as “Fear Of Lightning” has more in common with Teenage Fanclub than the likes of the usual comparisons with Neil Young and Evan Dando. Lyrically he's never been tempted to stray from matters close to home, and as a result he's been praised for the succinct authenticity of his past five albums and “Ghost In A Spitfire” is no exception - its very title betraying a theme rarely found amongst his western peers. The bulk of the songs were written by Peter and Canadian writing partner Bill Ritchie before his recent tour of the UK with Kathleen Edwards, and the album was recorded by Bruntnell and Sterephonics producer Jim Lowe in a variety of locations: his own guitars and vocals were laid down at his home in Devon, while Mick Clews' drums and former Black Grape member Danny Williams' bass were all recorded in a converted barn in Yorkshire. In addition, long time collaborator James Walbourne's lead guitar were nailed in north London and Son Volt's Eric Heywood recorded his pedal steel on “Little Lorelai” and “Polar Bear Jail” in his Shepherds Bush hotel room while on a break touring with Minnie Driver.
Live, the Bruntnell experience, featuring James Walbourne’s dazzling guitar
playing, is intense and thrilling. Tickets for the Railway Inn gig are £7,
available through 01962 867795. Support at the gig comes from Rachel van Zantzen
and Long Shore Drift.
Nick Harper - Mr Kyps, Poole - Wednesday October 25.
Born in London and raised in Wiltshre, Nick started playing guitar at the age of
10, and made his recording debut on his dad’s album “Whatever Happened To Jugula”
in 1985. His first solo effort was the “Light At The End of The Kennel” EP in
1994, followed by his powerful debut album “Seed” the following year. In 1996
Nick met Squeeze frontman and songwriter Glenn Tilbrook, who offered Nick a job
playing with and supporting Squeeze on tour. So impressed with Nick was Glenn
that he signed him to his own record label Quixotic Records. Live, Nick is an inspired performer with a distinctive, soulful voice to complement his astonishing guitar technique. His gigs are a bit of a rollercoaster ride, often segueing from his own compositions to well loved covers including Elvis’ “Guitar Man,” to songs by Frank Zappa, Jeff Buckley, and even Monty Python with his own version of “Always Look On The Bright Side of Life.” His showmanship even extends to his ability to break guitar strings almost by sheer force of will, and then change them and retune without dropping a beat. More recently Nick has released a double live CD, the “BloodSongs” album and “Treasure Island,” whilst maintaining a hectic touring schedule, including a host of festivals. Don’t miss a superb performer.
Tim O'Brien - Talking Heads, Southampton - Sunday
October 29. Nearly thirty years after moving tgo Colorado where he formed his band Hot Rize, Tim O’Brien’s life is still all about songs. In addition to his own prolific and successful songwriting, this child of West Virginia and the WWVA Jamboree has never stopped mining the American music canon for great material.
He’s a song sponge. Songs collect and abide in his world as comfortably as
family heirlooms. They come from around the world, particularly the American
South and Ireland. They morph into new ideas and new songs that update old
truths about the human condition. They find expression in hiis clear-as-ice
voice on stages, in recording studios and at home with circles of gifted musical
friends. Tim was so full of songs when he approached his latest phase of recording that they overwhelmed one album and became two. And yet with “Fiddlers Green” and “Cornbread Nation,” his original intent seems to have remained intact. "I wanted to do the whole spectrum of folk music from one guy singing and playing guitar or fiddle to a full band with electric guitar," says Tim. And thats how the pair came out, like folk music bookends. “Fiddlers Green” tends toward the intimate and traditional, while “Cornbread Nation” is a bit funkier and tempo-driven. On both, however, old-time tunes sit comfortably next to originals and a few classic country songs by the likes of Jimmie Rodgers and Harlan Howard. "I could have taken all traditional songs, but I love stuff like “California Blues” and “Busted” which are like folk songs to me, and they fit with the others, and it shows that what is called country music is just another footstep down the same path. Rock and roll, a lot of that is the same too, says Tim." During his career, Tim’s been one of the most prolific collaborators in American roots music, playing and recording with many different musicians. He also collaborated as a songwriter with a host of other artists including Darrell Scott with whom he wrote "When No Ones Around," which became the title cut of a critically acclaimed 1997 album by Garth Brooks. Later, he and Scott joined forces for “Real Time,” an intimate but electrifying duo album. “Songs From the Mountain” teamed Tim up with old-time musicians John Herrmann and Dirk Powell on songs inspired by the novel “Cold Mountain.” He joined West Coast musicians Mike Marshall, Darol Anger, and others, to release “NewGrange,” an album that melded Philip Aaberg's tasteful piano with a string band to push newgrass in new directions. And no relationships have been more fruitful than Tim’s friendships with the cream of Celtic acoustic music. In 1999 and 2001, he collaborated with some of Irelands best musicians to create two striking collections of original and traditional songs, “On The Crossing” and “Two Journeys. ” On these albums Tim explored his family roots in Ireland and the Irish-American experience.
The Long Blondes - The Joiners, Southampton - Friday
October 27. Three girls and two guys. The Long Blondes were conceived as a fantasy pop group, aiming to be sexy and literate, flippant and heartbreaking all at the same time. So they went falling and laughing headlong into the glamorous world of heaving amps onto trains and applying eyeliner in National Express coach stations. The first kindred spirit to notice the Long Blondes was Thee Sheffield Phonographic Corporation, with whom the band released their ultra limited debut. Next, was hip south London independent label Angular Records. Through them, the band released a brace of exhilarating 45s; The Hitchcock-inspired “Appropriation (By Any Other Name)” and bona fide cult classic “Giddy Stratospheres.” Both have become indie dancefloor staples as has their most recent release “Separated By Motorways,” recorded by uber-producer Paul Epworth (Futureheads, Bloc Party) at his request and released on his own Good and Evil label. The band were leading double lives worthy of Harry Palmer for most of 2005, taking odd days off work to play in New York, Stockholm and Barcelona and signing autographs whilst their bosses weren't looking. Meanwhile, word was spreading and all three previous singles were capturing the hearts of pop music lovers all over the world. In December, the band were personally asked to support Franz Ferdinand at Alexandra Palace - a fittingly flamboyant way to end the year. They kicked off 2006 as recipients of the NME Philip Hall Radar Award (previously won by Franz Ferdinand and Kaiser Chiefs) and played to increasingly frenzied crowds as everyone from the Guardian to Vogue proclaimed the Long Blondes to be the Best Unsigned Band In The Country. The band blushed at such proclamations but, frankly, even the best unsigned bands have to be at the office by nine. Surely Marlene Dietrich never had to work overtime? Even in these less than productive conditions, the Long Blondes spurned the advances of many inappropriate suitors until the right one came along. And it came along alright. In April - almost three years to the day of their incarnation - the Long Blondes signed to the legendary Rough Trade records. The label that brought the world the Smiths, the Strokes and the Libertines had done it again! The band are currently recording their debut album with Steve Mackey (Pulp, MIA) who also produced the band's most recent single, “Weekend Without Makeup.” Charting at number 28, it exhibited many of the already established hallmarks of a Long Blondes classic. The witty yet disturbing narratives, the barely contained guitar lines and drum crashes. Like the Slits playing Roxy Music or Donna Summer reciting the collected works of Harold Pinter, the Long Blondes are truly becoming auteurs of the perfect left-field pop song. The band line up with sardonic style icon and protagonist-in-chief Kate Jackson, guitarist Dorian, bassist Reenie, guitarist and keyboardist Emma, and drummer Screech. |
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Is
it really 40 years since I first enjoyed the music of John Mayall’s
Bluesbreakers back in the old Concorde Club in Southampton? I’m afraid it is!
John was one of the classiest acts around at the time when the R&B scene was
brimming with competition from acts like The Graham Bond Organisation and The
Yardbirds. The veteran John is currently on a nationwide tour with his band and
Chicken Shack, featuring Stan Webb, which touches down at Portsmouth Guildhall
on Wednesday October 25.
Fans
of “Breaking Glass” star Hazel O’Connor have three chances to see her in the
South this month. Hazel is on an acoustic tour with harpist Cormac De Barra and
guitarist Ruarí de Barra, and they will be visiting The Tower Arts Centre,
Winchester on October 6, Forest Arts Centre in New Milton on October 7 and The
Brook in Southampton on October 9.
Fans
of alt country music who live within travelling distance of Winchester can stick
a date in their diary - Saturday October 28. That’s the date when Peter
Bruntnell and his band return to the Railway Inn to play a gig. One of the UK’s
finest exponents of Americana, Peter has been a frequent visitor to the venue in
the past, and, in my book, is one of the country’s most underrated
singer-songwriters, and well worth seeing.
One
of the country’s finest singer-songwriters, with a blistering guitar style to
match, returns to Mr Kyps in Poole for an in-the-round performance on Wednesday
October 25. Nick Harper, son of the esteemed Roy Harper, is a regular visitor to
Mr Kyps, and can always be guaranteed to provide a knockout show.
Lovers
of Bluegrass music have a treat on Sunday October 29 when Nashville cat Tim
O'Brien plays a gig at Southampton’s Talking Heads venue with fiddler Arty
McGlynn.
Sheffield
band The Long Blondes look like bringing a touch of glamour and originality to
The Joiners in Southampton when they play a gig there on Friday October 27.
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